The trial of Abdulmalik Tanko and two others over the alleged kidnap and murder of a five-year-old girl, Hanifa Abubakar, could not continue on Monday at Kano State High Court as there was no legal representation for the accused.
Mr Tanko, who is the proprietor of the school Hanifa attended, is facing charges alongside Hashimu Isyaku and Fatima Jibrin.
The three were charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, concealing/keeping in confinement a kidnapped person and culpable homicide.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences are contrary to Sections 97, 274, 277 and 221 of the Penal Code.
State attorney-general and commissioner for justice, M. A. Lawal, prayed the court to decide if the proceeding could go ahead despite the accused persons not having lawyers.
Justice Usman Na-Abba asked Tanko and the other suspects if they wanted the state to provide them lawyers. They responded in the affirmative.
On the attorney-general’s request, the judge adjourned to February 14 for the continuation of the trial when the accused persons would have their lawyers.
The judge also granted a request from Lawal that the charges filed against the suspects on February 1 be substituted with the one filed on February 2.
